Monarchs Top Ju To Halt Slide

February 08, 1989|By CHARLIE DENN Staff Writer

NORFOLK — Trying to redeem a season which has started going sour, Old Dominion's Monarchs took a step toward that goal here Tuesday night.

The Monarchs limped past Jacksonville 91-84 at Scope to avenge a three-point defeat inflicted by the Dolphins in Jacksonville eight days ago. It ended a dry spell for the Monarchs, who had lost three of their last four conference games and played like a team contending for the bottom spot, not the top, in the league.

"We played like a team looking to get its confidence back tonight," said Old Dominion Coach Tom Young. "We didn't play cocky and I understand that. That only comes with winning."

Old Dominion has developed some nagging physical problems lately. Forward Anthony Carver missed Saturday's loss at Alabama-Birmingham with a sore right arch. Then in practice Monday, guard Darrin McDonald turned up with a badly bruised left hand and had to wear a tight bandage which made it difficult for him to catch the ball.

But McDonald and Carver played through those injuries Tuesday. Carver had 25 points and 10 rebounds while McDonald, who misssed four of five shots in the first half and had just two points, finished with 13 points and made a series of clutch baskets in the second half.

"I had the bandage on in the first half and I just couldn't get the right feel from my guide hand," said McDonald. "So I took some of it off at halftime and tried to not think about it too much."

The duo of Carver and McDonald blended nicely with sophomore center Chris Gatling, who erupted for a team-high 29 points and 15 rebounds. It marked the sixth time in the last eight games that Gatling has been in double figures in points and rebounds.

Gatling had 17 points in the final half.

Old Dominion needed every offensive burst it could muster. McDonald, for instance, came to the Monarchs' rescue twice in the final half, the first time when Jacksonville had narrowed a 45-34 halftime deficit down to just 50-49.

But McDonald had six points and Gatling four as ODU rebuilt the lead to 60-54.

McDonald had two more field goals later in the half to help the Monarchs fend off what turned out to be the final Jacksonville thrust of the game. Both came on drives to the basket.

"Darrin just took over in the second half," said Young. "He and Chris really came through for us when we needed it."

The win improved ODU's record to 5-5 in the Sun Belt and 12-8 overall. The Monarchs have conference home games ahead Thursday against South Florida and Saturday against UNC Charlotte.

"Now is the time for this team to come together," said Gatling. "We've been a little lackadaisical lately, coming out flat in the second half. Tonight I just tried to take charge of things to make sure that wouldn't happen again."

Another big factor in the Monarchs' favor was rebounding. Paced by the efforts of Gatling and Carver, ODU beat Jacksonville on the boards. The Monarchs had 50 rebounds, including 24 on the offensive end, compared to Jacksonville's 35.

"They (Jacksonville) are small but they are second in the league in rebounding," said Young. "For us to dominate like that on the boards was real big."

The Monarchs jumped out to a big lead early and led 31-16 11 minutes into the game. But the 3-point accuracy of Dee Brown and Pat LaGuerre helped the Dolphins, now 4-4 and 10-10, make a game of it, especially in the last half.

Brown, who had a career-high 32 points against ODU in the teams' first meeting this year, had 30 Tuesday. Included in that was a 6-of-9 showing from 3-point range.

LaGuerre added 12 points, all on 3-point shots.

"We did a nice job coming back," said Jacksonville Coach Rich Haddad, "but we only had a couple of guys who played well offensively. It's tough to win that way."